Narrow pull tab

ABSTRACT

A container and closure assembly whereby a pull tab sufficiently narrow in width is secured to the interior of the closure, thereby preventing the closure from becoming loosened or displaced, yet when sufficient torque is applied by the consumer to open the closure and remove it from the container the narrow pull tab is disengaged from its seal to the interior of the closure, yet having the liner over the mouth of the closure remains intact and undamaged, thus preventing any contamination of the container content.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an innerseal or liner of acontainer, which is used for sealing and securing the contents of acontainer. More particularly, the invention relates to an improvedinnerseal or liner, for a container, which not only effectively protectsthe contents of a container during transport and storage, but alsosecures the closure of the container and prevents the closure from beingdisplaced from the container during transport and storage.

[0002] Containers for dispensing consumer products such as food, drugs,etc., which utilize twist or snap cap closures, are typically sealed toprevent against tampering until the product safely reaches the consumer,ensuring that the materials in the container are tamper andcontamination free. Consequently, the need for protection and safety ofproducts that are packaged and delivered for use and consumption hasrequired the need for tamper evident membranes, which seal the mouth ofa container and are used in conjunction with a closure and container.Many advantages have been made to these innerseals, which provide saferand more effective sealing means, such as allowing for resealing, easierfacilitation for opening and tamper evident bands. These and otheradvantages allow for easier access and more protection for the consumer.

[0003] In many instances, however, during transport and distribution ofmaterials in containers, closures often are loosened. Not only can thisloosening or displacement of a closure make a consumer hesitant topurchase a product due to safety and contamination concerns, but thisalso allows for the liner to be unnecessarily exposed to the environmentand be prone to accidental or malicious tampering. Moreover, productswith loose closures may be passed up by consumers even if the containerliner is intact, and may eventually have to be discarded. This problemwill not only lead to higher costs for the manufacturing due to itsproducts being needlessly discarded, but this also allows for a higherchance of damage to the seal and the contents of the container.

[0004] Therefore, there exists a need to provide a secure container andclosure that prevents against loosening of the closure during transportand delivery of products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A feature of the present invention is to provide an innerseal orliner for a container having a tamper resistant sealing membraneincluding a narrow pull tab or extension. This sealing membrane or linersecures itself over the mouth of a container preventing access to thecontents, and providing a seal, while at the same time ensuring a tamperand contaminate free product. The narrow pull tab or extension issecured to the closure of the container and prevents the closure frombecoming displaced or loose on the container during transport anddelivery, thus unnecessarily exposing the seal.

[0006] Another feature of the present invention is providing a pull tabor extension which is sufficiently narrow so that torque applied by theaverage consumer is sufficient to permit the consumer to open thecontainer assembly, while not damaging the liner and the seal betweenthe liner and the container, thus, protecting the contents of thecontainer even after the initial removal of the closure, allowing theliner to be pulled to open when desired.

[0007] Yet another feature of the present invention is providing amethod of securing closures to prevent loosening during transport.

[0008] These and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunctionwith the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] The benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomemore readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant artafter reviewing the following detailed description and accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a side view of a container and closure;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side view of a liner incorporating a narrow pull tabor extension;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a top view of a container liner incorporating a narrowpull tab;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a top view of the liner incorporating a positionednarrow pull tab or extension prior to assembly; and

[0014]FIG. 5 is a side view of the multiple layer assembly of theclosure, liner and container incorporating the narrow pull tab orextension.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment invarious forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter bedescribed a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding thatthe present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of theinvention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specificembodiment illustrated. It should be further understood that the titleof this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description OfThe Invention,” relates to a requirement of the United States PatentOffice, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subjectmatter disclosed herein.

[0016] In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be takento include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any referenceto plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.

[0017] Referring now to the figures, and in particular to FIG. 1, whichillustrates a typical container or packaging reservoir (2), made of aresilient yet flexible plastic material, preferably polypropylene,polyethylene or like material, however may also be made of othermaterial such as glass or an equivalent which can readily withstandheat. The container (2) has a body (4), and resting on the body (4) ofthe container (2) are sidewalls (6) extending upward forming the neck(8) of the container (2). The neck (8) defines the periphery or rim (12)of the container (2) and forms the opening or mouth (10) of thecontainer (2).

[0018] The closure, (14) may vary in shape so long as it fullyencompasses the opening or mouth (10) of the packaging reservoir (2) toensure the containment of the contents. The closure (14) can bedescribed as having an inverted hollow cup shape with a top surface(16), and downwardly extending external sidewalls (18) forming a skirt(20). The sidewalls (18) have an inner (19) and outer (21) surface. Theinner surface (19) may have ridges or knurls extending around thesidewalls (18) continuously or intermittently to facilitate securing theclosure to the container by way of turning or twisting. Other securingmeans can be utilized with the present invention so long as the closurehas a means for securing itself to the container.

[0019]FIG. 5 represents the multi layer assembly of closure, liner andcontainer. The liner (22) is generally a packaging laminate, which maybe heat sealable to a wide variety of bottle materials, such aspolypropylene, high-density polyethylene or linear low densitypolyethylene to provide a strong peelable seal. The side or horizontalview of the innerseal or liner (22) illustrated in FIG. 2, shows thedifferent layers encompassing the liner (22). A typical heat inductionliner (22) includes a backing or top layer or sheet (24) typically madeof pulp or a synthetic or polymeric material conventionally used to makeclosure liners, for example polyethylene, high-density polyethylene,polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene, or polycarbonateplastics, a middle or foil layer (26), preferentially a metallic foil,but can be also be made of any another polymeric material so long as thematerial will preserve the integrity of the contents in the container(2), and a bondable or adhesive layer (28). The foil or middle layer(26) is typically heated by the induction unit, which in-turn heats thebondable or adhesion layer (28) causing minimal heating or melting ofthe container mouth (10) resulting in a bond between the liners and thecontainer mouth (10). Although, the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention describes a liner having three layers, a top layer, a bottomlayer and an adhesive layer, this liner (22) may encompass multiplelayers forming the sealing membrane, and more particularly, the presentinvention includes an adhesion layer which need not be included to formthe packaging laminate.

[0020] Depicted in FIG. 3, is the top sheet or layer (24) of the liner(22). The top sheet (24) is defined by the periphery of the sheet. Theliner is hermetically sealed to the rim (12) of a container (2), bestshown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, to create a seal and protect thecontents of the container (2). To ensure that the lining (22) will coverand protect the contents of the container, the diameter of the liner(30) is approximately or slightly more than the width of the diameter ofthe container (12). Extending from the rim of the liner (30) are tabs(32), which facilitate easier removal of the liner (22) from thecontainer (2). There may be three tabs (32) around the perimeter of therim (30) of the liner and they may be located at equal distances aroundthe rim (30) or may be positioned anywhere around the rim (30) to retainthe liner in the closure prior to the capping operation.

[0021] Extending radially from the liner (22) is a narrow pull tab orextension (34). The extension (34) has at least two layers, a top sheetor film (36) and a bottom sheet or film (38) as shown in FIG. 1, andpreferably has three layers including a middle foil layer. The width ofthe extension (34) is preferably from about {fraction (1/16)}″ to{fraction (3/16)}″, and more preferably {fraction (1/16)}″.Particularly, the narrow pull tab is sufficiently narrow to allowbreakage of the tab (34) from the skirt (20) at about a rotary torque ofabout 10-20 lbs/square inch, and more preferably about 15 lbs/squareinch.

[0022] After the packaging process the liner (20) is firmly positionedover the mouth or opening (10) of the container (2), which typically isfilled with product, whereby access to the opening is prevented. The rimof the liner (30) abuts the rim of the neck of the container (12)thereby positioning the liner over the opening, (10) and allowing forthe tabs to overhand the rim of the container (12). The narrow extensionor pull tab (34), which also overhangs over the rim of the container(12) is folded over so as to be disposed on the perimeter of the openingof the container (10), and is formed on the underside or inner surfaceof the closure and engages the inner surface of the closure (14) andpreferably the top surface (16) of the closure (14), forming a sealafter the heating process, this is best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.Particularly, the narrow pull tab or extension (34) is bent upward andinward toward the perimeter of the rim of the container (12) as shown inFIG. 2, at an angle of between about 0 to about 45 degrees to the planeof the liner (22).

[0023] After the liner (22) is positioned over the opening of thecontainer (10) and the pliable narrow pull tab (34) is disposed at anangle toward the interior of the opening of the container (10) theclosure (14) is secure over the container (2). The container (2) andclosure (14) assembly is then subject to a process of heating. Thisheating step allows the adhesive in the adhesion layer (28) of the liner(22) to adhere to the rim of the container (12).

[0024] Concurrently, during this heating process, the narrow pull tab(34) which is positioned and abuts the inner surface of the closure(14), and preferably the top surface (16) of the closure (14), melts andcauses the tab (34) to adhere to the closure (14) thereby preventing theclosure from loosing or becoming displaced form the container (2) andthus exposing the sealed liner (22).

[0025] After the heating step, the narrow pull tab or extension (34) issufficiently secured to the top surface (16) of the closure (14) bymelting itself to the closure so that there is no loosening of theclosure (14) during transport or storage; however, when sufficient forceis applied, e.g. by the consumer, the closure (14) is removed from thecontainer (2), either by twisting, lifting or other means of removingthe closure (14), and the narrow pull tab or extension (34) issimultaneously disengaged or fractured from the closure (14) and removedfrom container (2), still leaving the sealed or bonded portion of theliner (22) undamaged and secured over the opening of the container (2).Particularly, the sufficient amount of rotary torque applied to allowthe tab (34) to break away from the skirt (20) is generally dependent onthe liner material, the tab width and the amount of heat used to securethe narrow pull tab (34) to the closure (14), preferably however, therotary torque needed to disengage or fracture the pull tab (34) form theclosure (14) while still leaving the liner securely sealed or bondedover the mouth (10) of the closure is between about 10-20 lbs/squareinch, and more preferably about 15 lbs/square inch.

[0026] Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a container andclosure assembly whereby a pull tab sufficiently narrow in width issecured to the interior of the closure, thereby preventing the closurefrom becoming loosened or displaced, yet when sufficient torque isapplied by the consumer to open the closure and remove it from thecontainer the narrow pull tab or extension is disengaged from its sealto the interior of the closure, yet having the liner over the mouth ofthe closure remains intact and undamaged, thus preventing anycontamination of the container content.

[0027] According to a second aspect of the invention, a method forforming a sealed container with a secured closure over the container, ofthe type which includes a safety innerseal or liner includes the stepof: providing a container body having a rim; placing an innerseal orliner over the rim of the container, whereby the opening or mouth of thecontainer is covered; placing the narrow pull tab which overhangs therim of the container and bending it inward toward the center of theliner so that the tab overlies the liner; placing the closure over theliner and container whereby the narrow pull tab becomes engaged with theinterior of the closure; passing the container and closure through aheating station whereby the innerseal or liner is sealed onto thecontainer body, and the narrow pull tab is sealed to the inner topsurface of the closure; thereby providing a container and closureassembly which prevents the closure from becoming loosened or displacedfrom the container and further having a sealed container which preventsleakage of the container contents and contamination of the contents fromelements outside the container, yet when sufficient force is applied tothe closure the tab is disengaged from the closure and the closure isremoved from the container leaving a liner in place and sealed.

[0028] From the foregoing it will be observed that numerousmodifications and variations can be effectuated without departing fromthe true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to thespecific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. Thedisclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all suchmodifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tamper resistant sealing liner for use with aclosure for a container, said closure having a top surface, extendingfrom said top surface are sidewalls forming a skirt of the closure, saidskirt having a inner and outer surface; said container having a body,extending upward from said container body are sidewalls forming a neckof the container, the neck further defining a rim forming a containeropening; said liner comprising: at least one layer having acircumference, said liner positionable and sealable over said containeropening; a tab extending from said liner circumference and having a freeedge spaced from said circumference, said tab engageable with said innersurface of said closure to maintain the closure secured to said liner;whereby a sufficient radial movement of said closure causesdisengagement of the tab from the closure while leaving the linersecured over said container opening.
 2. A liner according to claim 1,wherein said tab is engageable with said top surface of said layer.
 3. Aliner according to claim 1, wherein said liner has three layers.
 4. Aliner according to claim 2, wherein said first layer is a top polymericsheet.
 5. A liner according to claim 3, wherein said second layer is anadhesion layer.
 6. A liner according to claim 3, wherein said thirdlayer is bottom metallic sheet.
 7. A liner according to claim 1, whereinsaid liner has one plastic layer.
 8. A liner according to claim 1,wherein said liner has at least one tab extending from said liner rim,spaced from said container opening.
 9. A liner according to claim 1,wherein said tab has at least two layers.
 10. A liner according to claim1, wherein said tab width is about between {fraction (1/16)}′ to about{fraction (3/16)}′.
 11. A liner according to claim 1, wherein said innersurface of said skirt has ridges.
 12. A liner according to claim 1,wherein said tab is sufficiently thin to allow said tab to break fromsaid closure with a rotary torque of about 15 lbs/square inch.
 13. Amethod of forming a sealed container with a back-off resistant closureover the container, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing acontainer body having a rim defining a container opening; b) providing aclosure having a top surface and an inner and outer surface; c) placinga liner, having an extending tab which overhangs said container rim,over said container rim, whereby said container opening is covered; d)placing said extending tab inward toward the surface of said closure,whereby the tab engages said top surface; e) passing the container andclosure body through a heating station whereby the liner is sealed onthe container rim and the tab is sealed to the top surface; top surfacewith a rotational torque of about 15 lbs/square inch; thereby providinga container and closure assembly which prevents the closure fromdisplacement from the container while still maintaining a seal.
 14. Amethod according to claim 13, including the step of rotating radiallysaid closure, whereby disengaging said tab from said closure whilemaintaining said liner sealed over said container opening.
 15. A closureand liner assembly for use with a container having a closure adapted tobe secured to said container comprising: said container having adispensing opening therein, said closure including a top surface,extending down from said top surface are sidewalls forming a skirt ofthe closure; said liner having at least one layer having a diameter, andadapted to a tab extending from said liner and integral with said innersurface of said skirt; said tab being substantially narrow in width sothat by a sufficient radial movement of the closure causing the closureto disengage from said container while said liner remains adhered tosaid container opening.
 16. A closure and liner assembly according toclaim 15, wherein said tap extending from said liner is integral withsaid top surface of said closure.